Posted on: Saturday, May 8, 2004

Aloha Tower observation deck closed for repairs

Advertiser Staff

The Aloha Tower observation deck has been closed to the public, possibly through summer, while repairs are made to its concrete ceiling, the state Department of Transportation said yesterday.

Concrete fragments fell this week from the ceiling of the observation deck, on the 10th floor of Aloha Tower. Officials closed the deck as a precaution while crews determine the scope of repairs.

After an inspection, DOT officials believe water stored in tanks high in the tower to be available to fight fires had leaked into the ceiling area of the observation deck. The tanks had long been removed.

Aloha Tower was built in 1926 and was the tallest building in Hawai'i at the time. It is 184 feet tall and is topped by a 40-foot flagpole.